Zaragoza 1 - Barcelona 1

Zaragoza: Lainez; Cuartero, Rebosio, Paco, Vellisca; Aragón, José Ignacio; Galletti (Cani 61'), Corona (Garitano 81'), Vellisca; Drulic (Bilic 56'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Bonano; Puyol, Abelardo, Frank De Boer, Reiziger; Rochemback, Xavi, Cocu; Luis Enrique (Motta 88'); Kluivert (Gabri 70'), Saviola. 4-3-1-2.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Rebosio, Galletti, Drulic for Komljenovic, Toro Acuña, Milosevic / Barcelona: Reiziger, Rochemback for Motta, Overmars.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Aragón shot from edge of area after Galletti laid ball back from right.
1-1. 44. Saviola. First time volley as Luis Enrique pulled down long Xavi pass.

Barcelona took the last Champions League spot after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at Zaragoza. It was a sad night at the Romareda stadium, with the home side already relegated for the first time in 24 years, and following the embarrassing scenes the week before at Villarreal, the fans gave the players a hard time. Toro Acuña was missing from Marcos Alonso's side after picking up a fifth yellow card in that game, and he also faces a heavy ban once the investigation over the post-match incidents has taken place. Both he and Milosevic (who was also banned for two games for insulting the referee) may have already played their last games for Zaragoza, and Galletti and Drulic came in to the side in their place.

Kluivert brought a good save out of Lainez in the third minute, but five minutes later the home side were in front, Aragón beating Bonano from outside of the area after Galletti laid the ball in. Even so many of the fans carried out their threatened protest, and left the ground with only ten minutes on the clock. They didn't miss much, with Lainez punching away a long shot from Rochemback and Bonano saving from Drulic before Saviola levelled the scores a minute before the break. There was even less action in the second half, with referee Undiano Mallenco turning down a clear penalty by Lainez on Kluivert, and Luis Enrique hitting a soft shot at the keeper with the goal gaping in front of him.

Alonso brought on youngster Cani for his debut and he livened things up a bit, setting up José Ignacio for him to hit the bar with Bonano beaten. By now though Barça were aware that Celta, their only rival for the fourth spot, were unable to beat Rayo, and a point was more than enough. The game slowed down even further, and the Zaragoza fans started to mock their side, with shouts of 'campeones' and 'olé' whenever their players touched the ball. It was an unhappy ending, but the anger had already gone and everyone went home quietly disappointed. After the match Barça's Abelardo fainted in the dressing room. Somebody must have broken the news to him that Van Gaal was returning as manager next season.